WNY Entrepreneur

Heather L. Sidorowicz is President and owner of Southtown Audio Video, a custom installation and integration firm based in Hamburg, NY. Heather’s roots are on the front lines; working directly with the client, selling and designing both personalized audio/video solutions and corporate/higher education conference and training spaces. Most recently SAV completed the technology behind Explore & M...

Like most schooled in the 21st century, Matt graduated college with high hopes for climbing the corporate ladder, getting married having kids and a home with a white picket fence. He got off to a good start with a fortune 100 company, but Matt’s decision making and choices found him in legal trouble and starting over in his mid twenties. After returning to his college job at Camillo’s, Matt rose u...

If you or a friend owns a storefront/retail store they HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS. There are so many gold nuggets in this podcast episode. I promise you will not be disappointed. In 1979 Ken Slomovitz arrived in Buffalo New York to start what is today a 40+ year adventure in furniture retailing.  What was a retail store selling Ethan Allen Products today is a leading fashion center for home furni...

Nic Stella is both founder and CEO of RYSE UP SPORT NUTRITION LLC. As a lifelong athlete and NCAA Collegiate Wrestler, Nic has always been extremely competitive in his life endeavors. Graduating from King University in Bristol, Tennessee with a degree in Digital Media Marketing, Nic sought out work in the fitness industry as his passion was always in sports and athletics. After initial success wit...

Sean Heidinger brings a unique background in community engagement, entrepreneurship and event planning to his role as the BNMC’s Business Development & Incubation Manager. Joining the BNMC team in 2015 as Curator for DIG, WNY’s largest co-working and event space, Sean has grown to become the primary contact for all of the Innovation Center and BNMC’s entrepreneurial and incubation efforts. Cur...

This week I will be sitting down with serial entrepreneur Patrick Engasser. Patrick was born completely blind and has proven that obstacles are meant to be overcome, as he has conquered this challenge on his way to building two successful businesses. After college and a few short months of working in a call center, he realized that working for someone else just wasn’t the right path for him. At 24...

Max Muscato & His Father Marc Muscato founded their non-profit Rock Autism. While many organizations fund scientific research, Rock Autism addresses the issues of people living with autism and their families today. Rock Autism donates funds raised from benefit concerts to organizations serving youth living with autism. Rock Autism contributes to the professional development and growth of every...

Dan is a former Town of Amherst Police Officer, a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent, and a Criminal Investigator with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Building on his career in law enforcement, Dan held senior corporate security, real estate and aviation management roles with America Online and Delaware North Companies. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President with HSBC Bank, where he...

Enas Latif, one of the top real estate agents in Western New York isn't originally from here. Enas grew up in the country of Jordan. She moved here when she was 18 years old with her husband. In this podcast, we talk about how she built her business on relationships and hard work when she barely knew anyone here originally. Enas now has her own real estate team and is continuing to grow. Enas Lati...

MJ is no stranger to the weight loss struggle. Reaching 220lbs in middle school, she decided to make a change for the better once she got to high school and lost 90lbs. MJ began working in the fitness industry in 2006 while attending classes at U.B. for Accounting. She worked front desk at a local gym and would often skip classes at school to pick up extra shifts at the gym. That’s when she decide...

Tammy Pollino is no stranger to the beauty industry with over 20 years of experience.  From stylist, to educator, to salon owner she has worn many hats.  And for the past 12 years she has owned KaLu Salon and Day Spa in Amherst.  She opened in 2007 with just over 2400 square feet of space in the Ellicott Creek Plaza and in 2017 expanded to double the size in her 5000 sq foot fa...

Josh Thayer started with Vector Marketing in 2007 and quickly rose through the ranks breaking records at every level. He also guest lectures at RIT and Medaille College and has interviewed over 10,000 young adults and college students while personally training and developing over 1,000. He is the most prolific developer of sales reps and managers in vector marketing's empire division history and h...

We received so much feedback from the "How to market your business for Free" that I decided that I needed to make a part 2. If you haven't listened to part 1 I would listen to that one first. 

Do you want to know some marketing secrets to get your business more followers and likes on social media in today's age without spending any money? I can't believe when meeting with businesses, most don't know this stuff. Or worst, don't do it. Check out this podcast to learn how to market for free. 

Eric Balsom is 3rd generation family ownership of Kenny Carpet and Floors.  Born and raised in Williamsville, Eric has a passion for design and interacting with the local community.  Eric received his business degree from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida before moving back home in 2008.  He recently started his own carpet and upholstery cleaning company Deep Clean 716.  A...

Meet Dr. Tamara who started her own practice called Buffalo Plastic Surgery over 3 years ago. I wanted to interview a well-established surgeon who has opened her business recently so other doctors could get a fresh perspective on running their own business. A little bit about Tamara. Ivy League-trained in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the prestigious Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Man...

Anatoliy and his family are immigrants from a small village in Ukraine that moved to US in 2003. He is from a family of twelve, four boys and six girls. Anatoliy and his brothers learned roofing trade from working with another roofing company. After Anatoliys brother-partner Vitaliy had full cancer recovery, they decided to start their own roofing company. A lot has changed since they started AVA...

Brian Ellsworth has been a successful entrepreneur in the health and wellness field for the past two decades.  He has averaged a six-figure income and his best year was over half a million in income.  The majority of his career has been part-time.  We also later talk about one of his ventures,  a 35Billion dollar industry he has just moved into.

Tony and Jordan are two young entrepreneurs, childhood friends, college roommates, and graduates of University at Buffalo. They started their business venture, Three Sixty Views, which is a photography/videography content creation company. Through the growing pains of growing a business while being full time college students, they have learned what it takes to hustle and provide exceptional qualit...

Sandra Haseley, President and Cofounder of Revolution Healthquarters. Sandra graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a degree in finance and a minor in marketing.   She went on to begin a career in commercial real estate through underwriting & financial analysis. This led her further into the industry as a director of sales and leasing for commercial developments in WNY.   She...

An RIT business graduate from Henrietta, NY. During his studies at RIT, Jake developed a business plan to scale his family’s small restaurant, Nathan’s Soup & Salad from one location to several, including a USDA certified production facility in the Genesee Valley Regional Market. With over 10 years of mastering the restaurant industry, Jake has now pivoted focus to wholesale production and man...

Eric Schnirel not only founded Great Lakes Transport in 2015, but also serves as the Managing partner and President of the company.  Eric is Buffalo Born and raised, graduating from Sweet Home High School and continuing on to earn a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Medaille College in 2010, and then an MBA in finance from Canisius College 2012.  Eric spent 5 years in the...

 Nico Toliano has been an entrepreneur from day one! After college the Niagara Falls native got involved in many different industries until he landed on social media marketing in 2016. He now runs “The Success Agency”, a full service social media marketing agency as well as an Italian Pride business The Wooden Spoon Media and Entertainment! 

  Canvas Salon & Gallery's Owner, Stylist and Curator, Jaime Brawdy has been working in the arts and beauty industry for over 18 years. Her skilled artistry has developed through painting, sculpting & shaping her guests perspectives of themselves in a positive and creative light. Her organized free spirt allows for a creative and productive culture reflective of her carefull...

Nick is one of the owners of Four Mile Brewery in small town Olean NY. Nick talks about starting a business in a small town and the different variables it takes to thrive in it.